Source: Protect humankind’s common heritage – Mugabe | The Financial Gazette June 6, 2017
PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe has appealed to the global community to allow his country to act freely and within the context of its own sovereignty.
The nonagenarian was one of a handful of Heads of State and Government attending the United Nations Oceans Conference in New York that hopes to secure commitments to reverse the cycle of the ocean’s decline.
President Mugabe told his audience that the oceans contributed significantly to Zimbabwe’s development, despite it being a landlocked county.
In an unhurried approach to the podium accompanied by three aides, the world’s oldest head of state at 93 told his audience the time to act to protect humankind’s common heritage was now.
“The Oceans and seas contribute significantly to the development of my country in their capacity as a model for the conveyance of goods between my country and the outside world. That contribution is set to grow and increase in the coming years as we opt for greener modes of transporting our exports. Sea freight will be a preferred choice for its environmental friendliness and higher carry capacity than air-freight.”
In a carefully delivered speech, at times stumbling and slurring his words, President Mugabe warned that developing countries suffered the most from illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in their waters.
“We call for an end to these illegal practices which prejudice the development prospects of the affected developing countries. We also call for increased support to developing countries to capacitate them to derive optimum benefits from the exploitation of their marine environments. In this regard we support the voluntary commitment made by our regional organisation, the South African Development Community – SADC, to establish and strengthen existing regional fisheries monitoring control and surveillance mechanisms in Eastern Africa, South Africa and the Indian Ocean regions.”
He also called for greater financial and technological assistance to poorer countries in a familiar refrain used here at the UN.
“We have also underlined the importance of partnerships at all levels from the national to the global level. I wish to remind some partners that while they may exclude my country from some financial and technical assistance facilities because of the illegal sanctions they continue to maintain against it, the effects of climate change are not discriminatory, may they listen to that. The effects of climate change are not discriminatory so please down with your sanctions.”
He recommitted Zimbabweans to implementing the Sustainable Development Goals within the means available to them. –www.sabc.co.za
COMMENTS
How many people were murdered in the Gukuruhundi – this is Mugabe’s Heritage – one of murder.
Pathetic. ZANU beggars are not “partners”. They are useless beggars who produce nothing and consume everything in sight.
New York the only reason Bob went there is to lobby USA to remove sanctions while the day before people were stopped to work /sell their imported stuff and frog marched to the rally, fearing for their lives they complied next one in Mutare the word came out that everyone must be there of that is human rights violation of which it’s the reason why those sanctions were put in place in the first place now to Bob and his mistress disGrace how does it affect Dabengwa and the son of dissident
If the ocean is the common heritage then so is the Land. But this old Racist said earlier that whites should not own land or farms there is the common heritage, …… Why do whites continue to shake his hand. He hates whites so much but he is always crawling off to lick the feet of US and European Leaders,.
When will the young and free Zimbabweans stand up and herald a new age, when we can all get along and build our country together.